New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-28
1uv WORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER o. 1887

oeed cents per pound S1,5O7 20 OF paper
sbeathing, and in all S1,138, 4O2 40. There
was exported in the Same year Sl.llo,o3o
worth of paper as follows $115,567 worth OF
writing paper and envelopes, SlO5,3l4 OF
oapcr-hangings, and Ss97,757 Of other paper.
The foreign trade has practically no IN
Gucncc on the supply or cost of paper in this
country, for the quantity consumed exceeds
twenty pounds per capita. or 1,2OO,OOOOOO
nounds. There was timc when the paper
duty severely tested the fidelity of journalists
who favored protection. and not few OF them,
il not ready to abjurc their faith, were inclined
TO make an exception in their own favor by
urcing the repeal OF the duty, because the
homo demand had outrun the supply for time,
and had enabled makers TO get high prices.
Not to speak of 30 cents per pound for ordinary
ncws paper, a price paid during the war but
not long, rs late as January, 1867. no less
than 1G cents was paid. and in 1869 no less
than 13 cents for paper not better than can
now be bought for to IL cents. In those
DAVIS the fidelity Of such men as Senator Warner
Miller and Senator IIiscock, in standing by
their principles against the camors OF UNI
thinking or half-thnbing newspapers, was
conspicuous, and it has been SplcndidIy VIM
dicatcd in tho development Of the home IN
dustry. and the consequent reduction IN price.
Even in 1866. when Commissioners David a.
Wells was advocating reduction of duties in
his reports. though he asserted that single
MATCHMAKING company had realized profit
~ SI7SOOO in n year, and ten others an aver
ace Of S3l 900 each. he did not recommend
reduction Of duty, because the manufacture
was so rapidly increasing. and he remarked
that it was good opportunity "thoroughiy to
test the truth Of the claim made by Protcc-
tioniSts' that "by stimulating domestic COM
pcti,ion. protection would in time afford to the
consumers manufactured products at the most
reasonable prices" Perhaps he did not antcl-
nate that the test would afford magnificent
yindicalion Of that policy. But American
newspapers arc now able TO buy paper lald
down on the sidewalks in front Of their Offices
at less than the cost Of the same paper in Lon
don. to say nothing Of the freight and the duty
on imports. To-day paper Of various KINDS
is exported from this country 20 England to
Canada. to Cuba Mexico, Central and South
America, to Australia and to sixty ont Of Scv-
cnty countries or political divisions Of the
globe which are mentioned in official reports.
There have been hundreds Of tests which
have with similar concluSlvcncss demonstrated
the efficiency Of protective duties in developing
home competition. and thus securing permanent
chcapncss Of supplies. These tests have re-
suited in splendid vndication Of the strong
and sturdy faith Of those who defended that
policy when it was in doubt. 1t Will not be
found 50 easy now as it was twenty years ago
to convince practical Americans that tariH
which secure, cheaper products than an be
had anywhere use IN the world is necessarily
tax oppressive to consumers, harmful 10 IN
du,try unjust wicked and mlolcIaDlc